Heading into the third, and what could be the series ending Test match, Australia have to do a complete about face to pull this Ashes out of the fire. If this can’t happen, then nothing short of a national enquiry will suffice for the supporters of the baggy green.
But there is one quick fix solution for Ricky Ponting, and that is to take a leaf out of Daniel Vetorri’s book and become the man in charge of everything.
After the recent debacle in Asia, no doubt NZC and CEO Justin Vaughan will scrutinise the roles of the 11 people making up the Black Caps’ management team. From coach, manager, bowling coach, batting coach, physiotherapist, psychologist, nutritionist, video analysist and all round general gofers; all these roles will be placed under the microscope, the axe will fall and heads will roll.
Unfortunately however, the main crux of the two series loss rests with the players, in particular the senior players who make up a small band of men who can dictate what the team does.
Not only is Vettori the captain, he is also player/coach (Greatbach is happy to have his strings pulled) and also a national selector. He also has a large say on most things New Zealand cricket does. Ross Taylor and Brendon McCullum stand by their man, or Dan, as it is on this occasion, and combine to form a powerful union of three.
These players were quick to denounce John Bracewell and Andy Moyes with the line from NZC about how both coaches “weren’t suitable” for the role.
Was this truly the case or were these players not wanting to toe the line and do it the coaches’ way? These same players do not seem to be so vocal now after 11 ODI defeats in a row, four of which were against Bangladesh. In fact their silence is deafening.
Has anyone stopped to think just why John Wright has not been appointed yet? Obviously with a strong headed and strong willed man in charge these same players would have to conform and that is not something they are willing to do.
I am not saying that these players don’t deserve to be there, they are all very good players in their own right, but when a wicketkeeper can choose not to keep wickets but to play as a batsman (and where he wants to bat), then this can not be good for a national side.
Part of the problem is that they have NZC over a barrel when it comes to signing their contracts. They threaten not to resign with NZC unless their demands are met, knowing full well that they can make a living off lucrative IPL contracts.
These players need to quickly be put back into place and have their only focus on playing cricket. With all the other distractions and the knowledge that their spot in the side is secure, it surely leads to complacency. It has been near on two years since Ross Taylor scored a ODI century.
So with Australia being on the decline in recent times on the cricketing field, perhaps it is time for Ponting to give Vettori a call and ask him for advice. That way if the Ashes are lost again then Ponting can do what Dan has done, and have all the power and say of the national cricketing body.
A say that is until the losses continue and you can remain silent and deflect everything back to the CEO.
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